SAN DIEGO (AP) -A sports marketer has filed a lawsuit against former Southern California running back Reggie Bush and his parents that seeks to recoup nearly $300,000 in cash and gifts they allegedly accepted during Bush’s sophomore and junior seasons.
The suit filed Tuesday in Superior Court claims Bush and his family received $291,600 in cash, living arrangements and other benefits from Lloyd Lake between November 2004 and January 2006.
“They had fallen on hard times financially and required immediate and significant financial assistance to support their respective lifestyles,” according to Lake’s lawsuit.
The suit comes nearly two years after allegations first surfaced and has prompted the NCAA and Pac-10 to launch their own investigation.
An e-mail message left for Bush’s attorney, David Cornwell, was not immediately returned.
Lake and partner Michael Michaels have said they provided money to Bush’s family as well as a home for which his family had failed to pay more than $50,000 in rent. The conflict was made public after Bush, now a New Orleans Saints running back, signed with another sports agent.
Bush, the Heisman Trophy winner as a junior in 2005, is in his second season with the Saints. He has said repeatedly that neither he nor his family did anything wrong in dealings with Michaels and Lake.
Michaels reached a settlement with Bush and his family last April.
Entertainment, a marketing agency founded by Lake and Michael Michaels, that shows the agency soliciting marketing and memorabilia deals on the running back’s behalf.
Lake’s attorneys said they plan to meet with NCAA investigators Friday.
If Bush is found to have received improper benefits, USC could be forced to forfeit games. The school could face other sanctions if it’s proven that coaches knew or should have known about the alleged benefits.
Also, if Bush is found to have broken NCAA rules during his Heisman-winning season, the award could be revoked.
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